NeuroProtect – A novel therapy to prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

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Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating neural condition that affects millions of European cancer patients every year. It is considered by patients and oncologists to be the most significant long-term impact of cancer treatment and often results in devastating consequences for patients, including an inability to work or perform the basic tasks of daily living. With chemotherapy usage set to increase by 53% by 2040, CIPN remains a clear and urgent unmet patient need. CIPN is the loss of sensation and movement in the hands and feet induced by chemotherapy treatment and is often associated with chronic neuropathic pain. Chemotherapy drugs enter the blood-stream and target all fast-growing, rapidly multiplying cells – a known characteristic of cancerous cells. However, many cells of this nature occur naturally in the body, including peripheral nerve cells. Thus, a well-known side effect of chemotherapy is the demyelination of these peripheral nerves (i.e. the destruction of the protective coating of nerve cells). Localised Microvascular Compression Therapy (LMCT) is a concept developed by the PI focused on temporarily reducing blood flow and unwanted chemotherapy drug delivery at the peripheral nerve fibres during chemotherapy treatment. By applying a consistent low-level pressure (between 40 and 60 mmHg) across the skin surface of the hands and feet, the local micro-blood vessels (which deliver chemotherapy drugs to the nerve fibres) are temporarily occluded, causing local chemotherapy delivery to be drastically reduced, thus preventing destruction of long-chain myelin and maintaining neural function (note: short-term and controlled blood flow reductions have been shown to cause no tissue damage). In this way, the NeuroProtect project will deliver a safe and pain-free solution to prevent CIPN during chemotherapy treatment.